Semiconductor stocks have been the subject of volatility so far this year, but the underlying business of this industry is growing—and should continue that trend in 2018 and beyond. Throughout the chip-making space, companies have successfully adapted to the changing needs of the consumer, including an increased demand for small, high-powered chips that enable “Internet of Things” (IoT) devices.
For those that don’t know, the Internet of Things is the growing world of interconnected household and industrial devices. Everyday products and machines can now be embedded with sensor technology to process data or interact with other electronic devices.
For example, consumer-level IoT products include things like Amazon’s (AMZN – Free Report) Echo “smart speaker,” wearable motion and activity tracking products, and advanced in-car technology. On the commercial side of the IoT market, industrial manufacturers have begun implementing sensors into machines to track performance and efficiency.
As demand for the microchips that power these IoT devices continues to grow, semiconductor manufacturers with a focus on IoT products will continue to benefit. And 2018 promises to be another marquee year for these suppliers, with the number of connected devices worldwide set to continue its rapid growth.
With that said, we’ve found three already-strong stocks that are looking to benefit even more from further IoT growth in 2018:
1. Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (VSH – Free Report)
Vishay Intertechnology is a global manufacturer and supplier of discrete semiconductors. The company has a broad portfolio of unique passive and active solutions that are tailored to the “things” being controlled in the IoT. Vishay markets its portfolio to manufacturers of everything from biometric monitoring systems to fit bands and smart appliances.
VSH is currently a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The stock is solid growth option, with earnings and revenue expected to improve by 40 and 16%, respectively, this year. But VSH is also reasonably priced, and the stock’s P/E of 11.3 and PEG of 1.2 show that investors are getting a great bargain on its current outlook.
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